Prevalence of access block in Australia 2004-2008

Abstract

Objective: Access block is the inability of ED patients requiring admission to access appropriate inpatient beds in a timely fashion, defined in Australasia as more than 8 h in the ED. The present study describes changes in prevalence of access block in Australia over a 4 year period. Methods: Email, telephone and fax survey of ED on six Mondays at 10.00 hours (31 May, 30 August 2004, 18 June, 3 September 2007, 2 June, 2 September 2008). Data collected included point data on the status of patients in the ED at the index time and of recent ED attendance numbers. Results were collated and analysed by state and hospital role delineation. Results: Forty-eight (60%) of 80 eligible ED answered all..